His idea Helped

Launch The Games

The man whose idea helped the South Pacific Games into existence has no fears that Fiji will not make a big success of the inaugural Games next year.

“fIIHE world is getting smaller and no territory anywhere—especi ally in the Pacific—can afford to stand alone,” says Dr. Sahu Khan.

“Fiji knows it as well as anybody and for that reason we will make the Games a success. It will be common ground for us all.”

Dr. Khan, an Indian, is a medical practitioner in Lautoka, Fiji. He took his degree at Otago University, NZ, and is widely known in Fiji for his public spirited work in the fields of education and medicine. He is, among other things, the founder of the Fiji Crippled Children’s Society.

He has been a nominated member of the Legislative Council since 1959.

As a result of his wide sporting interests he decided in 1959 to press for the establishment of some kind of “South Seas Olympics” to enable all member countries of the South Pacific Commission to meet on the sports field.

He put this forward as a Fiji motion at the Fourth South Pacific Conference in Rabaul in 1959, which he attended as one of three Fiji dele gates. The motion was passed unani mously.

Back in Fiji Dr. Khan followed up the proposal by writing personally to

Dr. Sahu Khan.

Photo: Rob Wright

various territories and enlisting ; the support of local people. Hes promises of help. When he was S 2 tied there was enough genuine inW to enable the plan to keep going left it to the Fiji Government! handle.

A preliminary meeting to dis the entire plan was held at SPC hi quarters in Noumea in March, 11 and from this meeting full do emerged for a Games to be each three years in any one off territories entitled to take pan South Pacific Conferences.

The plans of this meeting later approved by the SPC and!

Khan’s Games were launched.

Organisation of the Games it the hands of a South Pacific Gsi Council, membership of whicK: open to one amateur sports orga£ tion in each territory. Council offfl hold office for three years andfc selected from residents of the country for that Games.

Organising Secretary for the Games, noted as a hard-working official[?] Fiji amateur sport, is Mr. K. C. Gajao But like many other Games officials Gajadhar has heavy duties of his o[?] he is with the Fiji Government's I department—and there have been posals recently that a full time orga[?] of the Games be appointed, and th[?] publicity officer be made available time for the next few months. The ganising committee intends to app[?] one of the officials attending the [?] monwealth Games in Perth to see [?] will accept the job, after the Game full time paid secretary of the S[?] Pacific Games.

Photo: Rob Wn[?]